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$450K Bail For Man Accused Of Trying To Run Over Cop

CHICAGO (STMW) — Ricardo Castro-Beltran was laid up in a hospital bed Sunday, recovering from four gunshot wounds he received when he allegedly tried to run over a Chicago police officer who caught him smoking crack, authorities said.

But once the 24-year-old recovers, it’s likely he’ll trade a hospital gown for a Cook County Jail uniform. On Sunday, Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois set bail for the Texas man at $450,000. Castro-Beltran, of Houston, was not present for the hearing. But prosecutors requested the high bail because they think he’s a flight risk.

Police were called Friday because Castro-Beltran appeared to be smoking crack in an SUV that blocked a Logan Square alley, near 2800 N. Pulaski Rd., prosecutors said.

Officers spotted Castro-Beltran in the vehicle “sweating excessively and shaking” and asked him to step out of the SUV, prosecutors said.

Instead of following their directions, Castro-Beltran appeared to take four or five hits from a crack pipe before trying to flee. He backed into a vehicle, then pulled forward, side-swiping a police cruiser. Then he ran over several garbage cans while trying to elude police, prosecutors said.

Castro-Beltran sped down an alley and through a condo parking lot. At some point, he threw drug paraphernalia out the window, which was later recovered, prosecutors said.

When police blocked him into an alley, Castro-Beltran accelerated toward one of the officers, prosecutors allege. The cop drew his gun and fired into the SUV, striking Castro-Beltran four times, prosecutors said.

After he was hit, Castro-Beltran lost control of the SUV and crashed into a parked car. But he jumped out of the SUV and scuffled with police before being subdued and taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center for treatment, authorities said.

Castro-Beltran was charged with felony aggravated assault with a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident. He also did not have a drivers’ license or insurance, according to court records.